Wheel of Fortune | Wheel of Fortune History Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Wheel of Fortune History Wiki Share Wheel of Fortune has been on the air in some form since 1975. The current nighttime version, which began in 1983, has accounted for over 30 seasons in its own right. Merv Griffin first conceived Wheel in 1973 while his other major creation, Jeopardy!, was in its tenth year on NBC . He decided to create a game show based on Hangman, and added a wheel to it as a "hook" after being inspired by Roulette (rather than the "Wheel of Fortune" casino game often referred to as the "Big 6"). For more details, see Wheel of Fortune timeline . Contents Edit "You are at the Shopper's Bazaar! And now, here is the host of the Shopper's Bazaar: Chuck Woolery!" The first pilot, taped in September 1973, put more emphasis on shopping for prizes at the behest of NBC boss Lin Bolen , who had commissioned the pilot to boost network daytime ratings among women 18-34.

With Chuck Woolery as host and Mike Lawrence as announcer, the show had contestants (all female) who solved Hangman-style puzzles, but their winnings were determined by a vertical mechanical Wheel stopped by Woolery. The puzzle board and Wheel were very different: the former used pull cards, while the latter stood in the center of the stage and had no Bankrupts, two (later four) Lose A Turn wedges, and one each of Buy A Vowel and Free Spin. It also had two $0 spaces plus one each of Free Vowel and Your Own Clue, the latter of which gave clues via an on-set telephone to the players. At the end of each round, the money earned by all three players was applied to prizes they had chosen prior to the taping (denoted by an Accounting Department); if a contestant covered her lowest prize's value, she would win it upon solving a puzzle and subsequent earnings were applied to the next item on her list.

The top winner, determined by prizes rather than money, played a Bonus Round called "Shopper's Special" which involved identifying the name of the bonus prize; the contestant was shown all vowels in the puzzle, then had 30 seconds to give one correct consonant and solve the puzzle (in this case, ISLE OF CAPRI) to win a trip there. Bazaar was, to put it mildly, a disaster. Neither Bolen or Merv liked the pilot, even during the taping: Lin felt there was no real excitement between the players and gameplay, calling the entire thing (especially the set) "old fashioned", while Griffin knew that "Everything about it was wrong." Test audiences were also unenthusiastic, as they could not understand the gameplay (including why players had to buy vowels), were unable to see the puzzle board, and referred to the game as "very slow" and "not challenging". Further, the pilot ran for a staggering 30½ minutes (not including the slate), and there is no indication that Bazaar was intended for anything larger than a half-hour timeslot.

Possibly because of this, or more likely the pilot using instrumental versions of "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" and "Spinning Wheel" as the main and commercial themes respectively, no clips ever appeared on specials or retrospectives for nearly 40 years; indeed, it was not until May 30, 2012 that any footage surfaced, when the opening segment was uploaded on YouTube. This was followed by the full pilot just over three months later, on September 8. It should be noted that several elements of modern-day Wheel have roots in Bazaar: the Toss-Ups bear a resemblance to "Stop the Wheel!" (especially the hand-held device Chuck uses to do so), while Free Vowel is now part of Free Play and the Prize Puzzle derives from the Shopper's Special. In addition, the Merv Griffin Productions logo which debuted on Bazaar used a griffin design that remained a part of the company logo through the late 2000s.

1974: Wheel of Fortune Edit "These are just some of the many exciting prizes available, yours to buy today on Wheel of Fortune!" Over the next year, Bazaar underwent a near-complete overhaul of not only its format, but its audiovisual presentation and staff (nearly all of those involved with the first pilot were replaced, most notably Woolery, Lawrence, and producer/director Bill Carruthers ). In early August, the show's name was changed to Wheel of Fortune. The second and third pilots were taped on August 28, 1974. Hosted by Edd Byrnes (suggested by NBC despite having no hosting experience) with Charlie O'Donnell announcing, these pilots featured a larger puzzle board and simplified the gameplay: there was now a much larger (horizontal) Wheel spun by the contestants, complete with a Bankrupt wedge that eliminated a contestant's winnings within that round plus whatever had been put "on account" from previous rounds. Whoever solved the puzzle now got to spend his or her money buying prizes from a large "showcase"; both pilots used the same prizes, which totaled $20,130.

The puzzle board was meant to be automatic, but the mechanism was not completed before taping started and Susan Stafford was hired to turn the letters (albeit opposite to how they were turned in the series). Wheel, like Bazaar, was a mess on both sides of the camera: Merv argued with director Marty Pasetta regarding camera shots, to which Pasetta demanded Griffin be barred from the control room (a move supported by Bolen); the Wheel was extremely loose, requiring a stagehand to be underneath stopping it with his feet; and Byrnes himself was (as he admitted in his 1996 memoir Kookie No More) intoxicated because he was "scared to death" about doing Wheel, a drunken state which clearly manifested itself in a variety of ways. The board, sound, and player display operators were a bit off, mishearing a call of F as S and incorrectly totaling a player's score at least twice. Susan was also a bit out of sorts, forgetting to turn a trilon during the third pilot. Rumors have circulated for years that Byrnes was caught reciting his vowels backstage by Merv. Regardless of whether this is true, it is known that Susan confronted him after the taping.

Test audiences were against these pilots as well, but in the opposite manner: the set was too busy, the sound effects too noisy, and Byrnes simply did not fit, in spite of some cheerful banter with contestant Tanya in the "happy drunk" pilot. Having gone this far, Bolen convinced her bosses to take a leap of faith and put the show on the air by voluntarily putting her job on the line: if Wheel fails, fire her; if it succeeds, give her a raise. They agreed by November 18, but shortly afterward the decision was made to replace Edd with Chuck, with the announcement made on December 13. The Jeopardy! contract, subject to end in January 1976, was terminated. The remainder was given to Wheel, which began taping in December. Two promos for the show's debut aired the week of December 30, one for the show itself and another for the new lineup beginning January 6, both showing clips of the premiere. 1975-91: Daytime Edit "Look at this studio, filled with glamorous prizes!

Fabulous and exciting merchandise, just waiting to be won today on Wheel of Fortune!" Wheel debuted on January 6, 1975 with Chuck, Susan, and Charlie, replacing Jeopardy! as per contract but taking the 10:30 AM slot of Winning Streak (which had also ended the previous Friday, as did Name That Tune). Chuck plugged the show in a voiceover during the credits of that day's Celebrity Sweepstakes, which aired at 10:00. "Hello, this is Chuck Woolery. Wheel of Fortune is an exciting new game show where three contestants have a chance to spin the Wheel and win valuable prizes! So join hostess Susan Stafford and me for our new daytime program, Wheel of Fortune: premiering next on NBC." Wheel had been refined from its third pilot in positive ways: puzzles now came with categories attached (soon expanding from Person, Place, Thing, and Fictional Character into categories such as Landmark, Title, Phrase, and Event), and the prizes were now behind behind a large prop at center stage with doors.

The show drew a 35 share on its first day and an average of 20 million viewers every day of the first week, quickly making Wheel the biggest series in all of daytime and earning Bolen a raise. Buy A Vowel eventually became required for vowel purchases, but remained problematic and was discarded by the end of October. When The Price Is Right expanded to an hour on November 3, NBC expanded Wheel for that week as part of the network's Daytime Gigantic Game Gala; on December 1, the expansion became permanent through January 16, 1976. While the show remained successful even during the near-fatal 1978-81 reign of Fred Silverman , he made two attempts to cancel it in 1980: The first was part of a plan to introduce a 90-minute talk show hosted by David Letterman on June 23, cutting out three games to do so. Among the mock schedules drafted was at least one which removed Wheel, although this was vetoed by May (Chuck and Susan addressed this on May 7, stating that the show had not been cancelled but NBC's schedule would be undergoing changes).

The three games which got the axe were Chain Reaction, High Rollers, and The Hollywood Squares. The second was carried through to the point of a series finale being taped for August 1 while Charlie and several other staffers left for other programs. By July 16, Silverman reversed the decision and opted to cut Letterman's program to 60 minutes; amusingly, the episode aired with cancellation announcement and goodbyes intact, followed by Chuck joking about it the following Monday. Don Morrow filled in as announcer for that week, with Jack Clark taking the reins on the 11th. Following this, however, the show continued with little to no hiccups...until late 1981. Woolery leaves Wheel...and so does Susan In late 1981, Chuck asked Merv for a salary increase from $65,000 to $500,000, in line with what other emcees were making and because Wheel was drawing a 44 share; Merv offered $400,000, and NBC opted to pay the other $100,000 until Griffin threatened to move the show to CBS.

In the end, Chuck left on Christmas Day 1981 (only one week after a set overhaul) and was replaced by KNBC weatherman Pat Sajak the next Monday; Silverman originally vetoed the decision, claiming Sajak was "too local", to which Merv ceased production for several days. He eventually got his wish after Silverman was replaced by Grant Tinker, who had previously convinced Mort Werner to pick up Jeopardy! 17 years earlier. Susan was originally abrasive to the emcee change, but soon warmed up to Pat. However, she clearly seemed distracted during the few circulating Susan/Pat episodes, and following a trip to India, she began reconsidering her career; she ultimately left Wheel on October 22, 1982 to pursue charity work. Summer Bartholomew , Vicki McCarty , and Vanna White filled in through December 10, with Vanna becoming permanent on the 13th.

The show's next big change was on August 8, 1983: the music package used on Wheel for the past eight-and-a-half years, composed by Alan Thicke , was replaced by a new set of cues by Merv; "Big Wheels" was replaced by "Changing Keys", and a new opening was introduced with a "Wheel! Of! Fortune!" chant (still used today) done over a shot of the logo on the spinning Round 1 layout. Afterward, Wheel continued through the 1980s at a reasonable clip...until Pat made a decision in 1988. Pat's announcement, Jack's departure In late February 1988, Pat announced that he was stepping down from daytime to host The Pat Sajak Show, a talk show on CBS . Clark left after the May 6 show, very likely due to declining health and bone cancer, and died on July 21; Charlie returned temporarily, and Johnny Gilbert also filled in, but by mid-August the show's new announcer was M. G. Kelly . The announcer issue was taken care of, but Wheel still needed a new daytime host...

The search The audition process, based on extant footage, appears to have consisted of each host being introduced by Kelly, the host introducing Vanna, contestant interviews, the opening spin with daytime rules spiel, a complete round, and a post-game chat. Both the daytime and nighttime sets were used, with the appropriate music for Vanna's entrance depending on the set. Over 30 candidates had been suggested or tested to replace Pat: Vanna was offered the position by producer Nancy Jones , but turned it down; Kelly did an audition ( alternate copy ), as did Jimmy Connors, Roger Twibell, and John McEnroe (who eventually became a game show host in 2002 with The Chair on ABC and later BBC One). Likely the least promising candidate was John Gabriel, whose hosting prowess was reportedly worse than Byrnes: Gabriel spun the Wheel the wrong way for the opening spin, read the score on the red player's display no matter whose turn it actually was (and/or called out whatever the red arrow stopped on regardless of whose turn it was), and during his chat with Vanna quickly brought up his prior work and association with the King brothers (who founded King World).

The most promising candidate was Tim Brando of ESPN, who auditioned in August and reportedly did so well that Merv said he "could host the show tomorrow". The cable network supported Brando, believing that it would increase awareness of ESPN and its programming. While Tim remained a possibility through at least mid-November, this was not to be... "It's a lot different than football..." While watching KABC's morning show A.M. Los Angeles around November 1988, Griffin noticed guest Rolf Benirschke , a former San Diego Chargers placekicker, discussing healthy habits; Merv quickly sensed that Rolf was a genuine, sincere person who loved people, and asked him to audition for Wheel after doing one for Merv's newest creation Winfall. Merv then selected him for Wheel following a decent audition (according to a UPI article from May 28, 1989, Twibell was the #2 choice). January 9, 1989 was Pat's last episode, and Rolf's debut (taped December 14, 1988) aired the next day.

While Benirschke was clearly nervous and forgot rules at times (most infamously admitting that he did not know what to do in the event of a daytime tie), he remarked in his 1996 autobiography Alive & Kicking that his mindset was to enjoy doing Wheel no matter how long his run may last. It was early in this period that the staff had finally had enough of Kelly, who often required several retakes for prize copy. At the same time, The Newlywed Game and The Dating Game were winding down their runs, and the announcer they shared became available for Wheel; Kelly's last episode aired February 17, and he was replaced on the 20th by the aforementioned announcer – Charlie O'Donnell. After six months of The Price Is Right continuing to build its lead while Wheel retained what it had already, NBC ended the show on June 30...only for it to return to CBS on July 17. While Rolf had visibly improved by the end of June and had been told that Merv wanted to retain him as host, CBS had other ideas...

Goen down the drain "From Hollywood, the famous Wheel is spinning, spinning, spinning, and the players will be winning, winning, winning! Because there's lots of cash and some fabulous prizes just waiting to be won on Wheel of Fortune!" While it was not yet known just who the host was going to be on CBS, a TV Guide ad at the beginning of July made it clear that it was not going to be Rolf. Possibilities included John Davidson (who had just ended a three-year run on Hollywood Squares), Chuck Henry (host of the 13-week Now You See It revival which Wheel was to replace), Bob Eubanks (who had left The Newlywed Game the previous December and whose Card Sharks ended in March), and Pat Finn (who went on to host The Joker's Wild, Shop 'Til You Drop, and The Big Spin). On July 7, CBS chose Bob Goen , himself no stranger to the genre. Wheel returned to its original timeslot of 10:30 AM, replacing the aforementioned Now You See It. Now using a scaled-down version of the nighttime format, almost everything was overhauled, generally for the better.

One problem, however, was that the show had become rather cheap: $50 and $75 returned for the first two months (sporting diamonds after the first CBS episode), the top values were $500/$500/$1,000/$1,250, and the Bonus Round offered such prizes as subcompact cars and $5,000 cash while still allowing the player to choose what prize to play for. While the budget improved somewhat over the next two years, October 16 was the last time the Wheel layouts were altered – namely, to replace the Free Spin wedge with $400. Budget aside, the move to Television City freshened up the show but also set off its downfall: while remaining on the network for 18 months, nothing seemed to keep the ratings from tumbling even after it returned to the NBC schedule on January 14, 1991 (and in the process began offering Bonus Round prizes in the $10,000 range). In a sign that the show was flailing, several play-by-phone contests were held in an attempt to boost ratings; none worked.

Wheel (as well as Classic Concentration) continued to skew older, and as a result advertisers were not particularly stumbling over one another to buy commercial space. The daytime Wheel ended on August 30 after 4,215 episodes, although repeats aired through September 20. The genre as a whole (at least on a network scale) continued to slide downward until January 1994, when Caesars Challenge was taken off the air and left Price as the only daytime network game for nearly 16 years, when the Wayne Brady revival of Let's Make a Deal debuted on CBS in October 2009. 1983-: Nighttime Channel 7 drops "Jeopardy," "Wheel of Fortune" adds new newscast and newsmag Advertisement (Provided by CBS Television Distribution) Denver’s KMGH-Channel 7 will drop the syndicated hits “Jeopardy” and “Wheel of Fortune” as of Sept. 8, as part of a switch by the Scripps TV station group. The move is a cost-cutting one by owner Scripps nationally. A new 6 p.m.

newscast and a half-hour newsmagazine, “The List,” will take over the time period beginning Monday, Sept. 8. The overall goal is to own and control (for advertising purposes) more of the on-air content. According to a KMGH release: 7NEWS Right Now at 6 p.m. promises a new type of newscast that is not currently offered in Denver. Its upbeat, fast-paced style brings viewers non-stop weather coverage and the very latest on developing stories from the studio and in the streets. With 7NEWS anchors Anne Trujillo, Eric Kahnert and Mike Nelson, 7NEWS Right Now at 6 p.m. will target specific news missions and deliver more stories and weather updates than any other station in the Denver market. “The List,” a national program with local inserts, is a newsmagazine that will focus on news and popular culture. It is executive produced by Rick Joyce, formerly of “Entertainment Tonight.” Details on the 7News set and newscast are forthcoming. Not all Scripps stations are involved in launching a new newscast.

“Wheel of Fortune” is regularly the most-watched show in weekday syndication, followed by “Judge Judy” and, third, “Jeopardy.” All are products of CBS Television Distribution. For years stations have complained of the significant costs of syndicated fare and the trend has been away from buying such strip shows and toward generating homegrown content. Wheel of Fortune | News | Pat Sajak Vanna White Renew Contracts Earn extra entries in special sweepstakes and score free VIP tickets to tapings! AMERICA'S MOST BELOVED HOSTS PLAY ON! PAT SAJAK, VANNA WHITE, AND ALEX TREBEK RENEW CONTRACTS THROUGH 2017/18 SEASON CULVER CITY, Calif. (March 11, 2015) – Pat Sajak and Vanna White, hosts of America's Game, "Wheel of Fortune," and Alex Trebek, host of "JEOPARDY!," America's Favorite Quiz Show, have renewed their contracts with Sony Pictures Television to continue hosting their respective shows through the 2017/18 season, it was announced today by Harry Friedman, executive producer of both shows.

“The enduring success of ‘Wheel of Fortune’ and ‘JEOPARDY!’ serves as a testament to the talents of these remarkable hosts,” said Friedman. “The renewal of their contracts continues the special bond that Pat, Vanna and Alex have formed with generations of TV viewers." "Wheel of Fortune," which averages 11.4 million viewers daily, is currently celebrating its 32nd season, while "JEOPARDY!" is in its 31st season on the air and brings in 10.7 million viewers daily. “Wheel of Fortune” is America’s Game®. It has been the number one syndicated game show since its inception and has earned seven Emmy Awards, including a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Game/Audience Participation Show. “Wheel of Fortune” is produced in High Definition by Sony Pictures Television, a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company. “JEOPARDY!”, America’s Favorite Quiz Show® and its host, Alex Trebek, began their 31st season September 15, 2014.

“Jeopardy!” holds the Guinness World Records® title for the most Emmy® Awards won by a TV game show (31 Emmys), including the 2014 Emmy® for Outstanding Game Show. In 2014,“JEOPARDY!” won the inaugural Writers Guild of America award for Outstanding Writing for Quiz and Audience Participation; it is also the recipient of a 2011 Peabody Award. “JEOPARDY!” and “Wheel of Fortune” are produced by Sony Pictures Television, a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company; they are distributed domestically by CBS Television Distribution and internationally by CBS Television International, both units of CBS Corp. ‘Wheel of Fortune’ and ‘Jeopardy’ Renewed For Two More Seasons | Variety “ Wheel of Fortune ” and “Jeopardy” have each been renewed for two more seasons, CBS TV Distribution announced Thursday. All hosts, Alex Trebek (“Jeopardy”), Pat Sajak and Vanna White (“Wheel of Fortune”), have signed on through the 2017-2018 as well.

“Not only are ‘Wheel of Fortune’ and ‘Jeopardy’ iconic brands that have consistently delivered ratings and revenue to stations for years, but they are beloved by viewers who have made them appointment viewing in households across the country,” said Joe DiSalvo, president of sales for CBS Television Distribution. “They are two of the most sought-after shows by political advertisers, so our station partners will benefit from locking up these shows through the upcoming 2016 presidential election season.” The series, hailing from Sony Pictures Television, are television’s top game shows, bringing in more than 10 million viewers each day. “Wheel of Fortune” has been the top game show in syndication since its start. The renewal deal takes “Wheel of Fortune” through its 35th season and “Jeopardy” through its 34th. 2016 Brings a New Crop of Game Shows By Carrie Grosvenor Updated January 31, 2016. Game shows, as a genre, seem to go in and out of fashion on a regular basis. The good news for fans though is that, as of early 2016, they appear to be on an upswing.

Though you might think that this is happening suddenly, this resurgence has been in the making for some time. Daytime Game Shows and Syndies Daytime and syndicated game shows have been hobbling along forever, some doing much better than others. What we're seeing now is that even those whose numbers are down are getting renewed, and those who have recently debuted are sticking around. For example: Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune - Both of Sony's signature game shows have been renewed through 2017-2018, so they'll be with us for a couple more seasons yet. These games both have had solid ratings since they began. Family Feud - The Feud has been gaining viewers, slowly and steadily, for years now. Steve Harvey provides great sound bites which appeal to a younger audience, which is just what the show needed. continue reading below our video 5 Classic Novels Everyone Should Read The Price is Right and Let's Make a Deal - These two CBS daytime staples are both running smoothly, though TPIR will always have a larger and more devoted audience.

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire - Though Millionaire has been losing viewers for years, and the departure of Meredith Vieira certainly didn't help, the show has been renewed for another season (2016-17), giving new host Chris Harrison a chance to re-establish their audience. Celebrity Name Game - Celebrity Name Game got off to a bit of a rocky start, but the powers that be have shown faith in this one and it's been renewed through 2017. So that takes care of the dailies -- all of which will be around at least for another year or two. These are basically the foundation of the genre, and since things are looking good here, other areas are starting to see improvement as well. Returning Shows There are a few fledgling game shows that debuted in 2014 and 2015 that could have gone either way as far as renewal, which others are going strong. Based largely on the success of 2015's summer game show offerings, we're going to see several of these programs returning this year.

They include: Hollywood Game Night - The combination of games that you can play along with at home and a revolving door of actual celebrity contestants has made HGN a success. The show is currently in its fourth season, and there's no reason to think it won't be back for a fifth. Idiotest - GSN's Idiotest is fun, goofy, and easy to play along with, and has earned the network a good bump in viewership. The show skews younger than much of their other fare which is one of the reasons that it will be back. Monopoly Millionaire's Club - Even though the show has scaled back to a half-hour format (from its first season's hour-long episodes), MMC is currently airing season number two. It may or may not return, but it's done better than most of us expected it to. Celebrity Family Feud - The star-studded version of Family Feud has run a few times over the years and it's usually fun to watch, but last summer's run exceeded expectations for ABC. As a result, Steve Harvey and a group of celebrity families will be back to duke it out for charity this summer.

BattleBots - You can argue that BattleBots isn't really a game show per se, but it's still tons of fun and we're including it here because of the competition aspect. BB returned to ABC last summer after a hiatus, and it also did well with viewers. It'll be back this summer too. 500 Questions - 500 Questions didn't burn up the ratings chart, but it did show enough promise that we'll be seeing a somewhat different version of the show this year. There will be a new host and hopefully enough questions to warrant the title. New Game Shows Based on how well these shows have done, networks both large and small are offering up a bunch of new game shows this year as well. The smaller networks see them as inexpensive ways to create many hours of original programming, and the larger ones see them as good "filler" programs for the summer and whenever their 'regular' programming is between seasons. It's still early in the year, but already there are a number of new games for 2016. Some of these include: The $100,000 Pyramid - Hosted by Michael Strahan, the Pyramid is a highly anticipated remake that will air on ABC this summer.

Apparently the game itself will not change from the original, and ten episodes are planned. To Tell the Truth - Originally slated to air last summer, this revival will also air on ABC and will be hosted by Anthony Anderson. Easiest Game Show Ever - The first original game show from Pop TV (formerly the TV Guide Channel), Easiest Game Show Ever premiered on January 22nd. It's hosted by Michael Ian Black. WinSanity - This is a GSN original that will be hosted by Donald Faison. 40 episodes are slated to air sometime this year, and the game combines contestant performance with audience participation. Heads Up - Based on the recurring segment from Ellen Degeneres' talk show, Heads Up will air on HLN and be hosted by Loni Love. Separation Anxiety - Hosted by comedian Iliza Shlesinger, this one is a relationship-based game that's set to air on TBS. QuizUp America - NBC snagged the rights to this one, which is based on the popular trivia app QuizUp. It'll pit contestants against viewers, though there aren't many more details available yet. The Wall - Also coming to NBC, The Wall is like a trivia-based game of Plinko.

Ten episodes are ordered with Chris Hardwick as host, though no date has been set for a premiere yet. You're Back in the Room - FOX tends to like the more off-the-wall game show formats, so it's no surprise that You're Back in the Room landed there. It's based on a British format in which the contestants are hypnotized before challenged to complete fairly simple tasks. There are some other titles being tossed around, and some shows that we're waiting to hear about as far as renewal goes. So the lists above are by no means definitive. But I think you can see the trend that's happening here! All it takes is one game show to break out and grab viewers in the way that the original Who Wants to Be a Millionaire did (or, a little more recently, prime time Deal or No Deal exploded) to spawn even more, so keep your fingers crossed that one of these game shows will be a huge hit.

Pat Sajak: I Hosted 'Wheel of Fortune' Drunk (Video) | Hollywood Reporter Pat Sajak: I Hosted 'Wheel of Fortune' Drunk (Video) 9:52 PM PST 1/25/2012 by THR Staff COMMENTS The longtime host admits that he and Vanna White would throw back a few margaritas before taping the show. Pat Sajak has been hosting Wheel of Fortune for more than 30 years, and it turns out that during that time, the host wasn’t always exactly swimming in sobriety while he was in front of the camera. Sajak, who has been hosting the show since 1981, admitted that in his early days of hosting he was sometimes drunk while on the show. PHOTOS: Daytime Emmy Awards 2011 Red Carpet During an interview on Dan Le Batard is Highly Questionable, Sajak talked about how he and Vanna White would head over to a nearby Mexican restaurant called Los Arcos and throw back a few margaritas. “We had a different show then. You didn’t win money.

You won fake money with which you could buy cheesy prizes,” he said, adding that dinner breaks would be more than two hours, which gave him and White plenty of time to imbibe at a restaurant near NBC’s Burbank studio. "Vanna and I would go across and have two or three or six and then come and do the last shows and have trouble recognizing the alphabet. They're really good tapes to get a hold of," Sajak said. STORY: Sony Takes 'Wheel of Fortune,' 'Jeopardy!' to Middle East "I had a great time. I have no idea if the shows were any good, but no one said anything, so I guess I did OK,” he said, adding that he didn’t participate in that kind of activity when he got older. "I would be hesitant to have anything to drink now,” Sajak added. Watch the interview below: ‘Jeopardy!,’ ‘Wheel of Fortune’ reupped | Variety ‘Jeopardy!,’ ‘Wheel of Fortune’ reupped April 7, 2010 | 07:45PM PT Gameshows extended through 2013-14 season What is a two-year extension, Alex.

“Jeopardy!” and “Wheel of Fortune” have been reupped through the 2013-14 season on the ABC-owned TV stations, where they’ve dominated the prime access slots for decades. Both gameshows, produced by Sony Pictures Television and sold by CBS Television Distribution, were set to have their deals end in 2012. “Wheel” and “Jeopardy!” have long been mainstays and are huge profit centers for both CBS (which acquired them when the Eye bought King World) and Sony. “Wheel” is tops in gameshow syndication, while “Jeopardy!” is No. 2. Renewals mark a constant in a quickly changing syndie landscape. “Oprah” is going off the air next year and other talkshows — specifically “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” and a new chatfest headed by Rosie O’Donnell — are looking to fill the void. Terms of the renewal were not clear but local ABC stations, severely hurt by the ad recession and slow economy, were looking for better deals than the one signed in the 2007.

“Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek and “Wheel” emcee Pat Sajak have also reportedly extended their respective contracts. News was first reported by TVMoJoe.com. 'Wheel of Fortune,' 'Jeopardy!' salute US veterans You are using an older browser version. Please use a supported version for the best MSN experience. 'Wheel of Fortune,' 'Jeopardy!' salute US veterans Associated Press 11/9/2015 By LYNN ELBER, AP Television Writer © The Associated Press FILE - In a Sunday, June 16, 2013 file photo, Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek speaks on stage at the 40th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards, in Beverly Hills, Calif. "Jeopardy!" and "Wheel of Fortune", in cooperation with the veterans' support campaign Got Your 6, are using the week of Nov. 9, 2015 episodes to spotlight those who have served. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File) © The Associated Press FILE - In a Monday, Oct.

22, 2007 file photo, game show hosts Vanna White and Pat Sajak arrive at the 17th annual Broacasting and Cable Hall of Fame awards dinner in New York. "Jeopardy!" and "Wheel of Fortune", in cooperation with the veterans' support campaign Got Your 6, are using the week of Nov. 9, 2015 episodes to spotlight those who have served. (AP Photo/Peter Kramer, File) LOS ANGELES (AP) — "Jeopardy!" and "Wheel of Fortune" aren't playing around when it comes to marking Veterans Day. The game shows, in cooperation with the veterans' support campaign Got Your 6, are using this week's episodes to spotlight those who have served. On "Wheel of Fortune," all of the contestants have been in a branch of the U.S. military. And host Pat Sajak, an Army veteran, joined with other vets and show presenter Vanna White to tape a series of public service announcements. The PSAs that will air during "Wheel of Fortune" aim to counter stereotypes and myths about veterans, said Army vet and Got Your 6 spokeswoman Kate Hoit.

Sajak said he was thrilled to "honor others who have served their country." "Particularly in this all-volunteer era, it's easy to forget about the sacrifices made by them and their families," he said. Sajak joined the Army in 1968 and served for three years. That included an 18-month stint in Saigon that he said was largely spent as a U.S. Armed Forces radio DJ. On the "Jeopardy!" episode airing Wednesday, Veterans Day, "Modern Family" star Eric Stonestreet will present a veterans-related category for the quiz show's contestants. Sajak and "Jeopardy!" host Alex Trebek, who has participated in more than a dozen USO trips over the years, also taped a PSA for Got Your 6 "Storytellers" events, one held in New York last week and one set for Tuesday in Los Angeles.

Held in partnership with the TV academy, "Storytellers" provides a showcase for the talents and ideas of those who served, according to Got Your 6, which derives its name from the military phrase, "Got your back." Got Your 6, as described on its website, brings together nonprofit, government and Hollywood partners to help veterans become community leaders and to foster understanding of their value through popular culture. Rob Gordon, president of Got Your 6's parent organization Be The Change, said in a statement that the campaign was grateful to "Wheel" and "Jeopardy!" for showing how the entertainment industry can help "normalize depictions" of those who served. "Our veterans are civic assets for the nation, not broken heroes, and we so value gaining access to a national television platform that helps us deliver that message directly to millions of Americans," Gordon said. Click to expand Wheel of Fortune | News and Events Wheel of Fortune - News And Events Good news! More Wheel and Jeopardy! TELEVISION'S TOP TWO GAME SHOWS 'WHEEL OF FORTUNE' AND 'JEOPARDY!' RENEWED THROUGH THE 2017-2018 SEASON.

Now Renewed in 80% of the Country WHEEL OF FORTUNE and JEOPARDY!, television’s top two game shows each averaging more than 10 million viewers daily, have been renewed through the 2017-2018 season, it was announced today by Joe DiSalvo, President of Sales for CBS Television Distribution. Both shows were renewed for two more years beyond stations’ current contracts in 80% of the country including on the ABC Owned Television Station Group, Sinclair, Media General, Gray Television, Hearst, Graham Media, Tribune, Cox, Meredith, Dispatch Broadcasting, NBC and Scripps. “Not only are WHEEL OF FORTUNE and JEOPARDY! iconic brands that have consistently delivered ratings and revenue to stations for years, but they are beloved by viewers who have made them appointment viewing in households across the country,” DiSalvo said. “They are two of the most sought after shows by political advertisers, so our station partners will benefit from locking up these shows through the upcoming 2016 presidential election season.” The new deal will take WHEEL OF FORTUNE through its 35th season and JEOPARDY!

through its 34th season; the shows’ hosts Alex Trebek, Pat Sajak and Vanna White have all renewed their deals through the 2017-2018 season. In the top three markets, WHEEL OF FORTUNE and JEOPARDY! air on the ABC-owned stations WABC-TV, New York; KABC-TV, Los Angeles; and WLS-TV, Chicago. WHEEL OF FORTUNE and JEOPARDY! are two of syndication’s most successful series and both continue to attract a larger audience than many primetime television shows. WHEEL OF FORTUNE has been the #1 syndicated game show since its inception. Hosted by Pat Sajak and Vanna White, WHEEL OF FORTUNE has earned seven Emmy Awards, including the 2011 Emmy for Outstanding Game/Audience Participation Show. Hosted by Alex Trebek, JEOPARDY! is the #2 game show in syndication. JEOPARDY!, holds the Guinness World Records® title for the most Emmy Awards won by a TV game show (31 Emmys), including the 2014 Emmy for Outstanding Game Show.

In 2014,JEOPARDY! won the inaugural Writers Guild of America award for Outstanding Writing for Quiz and Audience Participation; it is also the recipient of a 2011 Peabody Award. WHEEL OF FORTUNE and JEOPARDY! are produced by Sony Pictures Television, A Sony Pictures Entertainment Company, and executive produced by Harry Friedman. They are distributed domestically by CBS Television Distribution and internationally by CBS Studios International, both units of CBS Corp. ‘Jeopardy!’ and ‘Wheel of Fortune’ renewed until 2014. What is awesome, Alex? – EW.com Pinterest Image Credit: Carol KaelsonVariety reports that both Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune have been renewed through the 2013-2014 season. This means two things: 1) I will remain in shape until 2014, since Jeopardy! remains my favorite TV show watch while working out , and 2) We get to watch Alex Trebek’s sheer disgust for underperforming players for four more years. And that, my friends, is the greatest gift of all. A_E Y_U EX_IT_D, P_PWAT_HE_S?

Question: What has been on the air longer? Jeopardy? Or Wheel of Fortune?
Answer: Jeopardy